HELLO, MY NAME IS: Eric Fulara
People come and go in and out of schools on a daily, weekly, yearly basis. Some teachers are here for only a block or two. Others only one term a year. Some are here for two or three years, then leave. Coaches can sometimes come and go in a year (see girls’ basketball coaches from the last two years); or come, leave, then come back. Even with new faces coming and going, it’s important to get to know the good ones—not just as teachers, but as coaches and more importantly as human beings.
Born in Chicago in 1975, Coach Eric Fulara grew up as one of four children. He attended high school at Notre Dame High School in Niles. As part of an athletic family—he and his brothers played football and his sister played volleyball and softball—it was only natural that he should go to Northeastern Illinois University to get his degree in Physical Education. Coming to Central, Coach Fulara brings eight years of teaching experience and seven years of coaching wrestling.
“We’re in a rebuilding process,” Fulara says of his wrestling program. ”But we’re doing OK.” At a school where basketball seems to reign king, it’s hard for a sport like wrestling to get its due credit. Fulara thinks there is a reason that schools like Montini have had such great sucess in wrestling, whereas Central seems to be down in numbers and experience. “Their rich tradition in wrestling is due to the fact that all their football players wrestle.” This, he says, boosts numbers. “But we’re dong well with some hard workers.” At the halfway point, Coach Fulara already has a pretty good idea of his wrestlers. Fulara says that at the halfway point, freshman standout, Greg Jacquez, is his program’s MVP. In addition, he says senior Matt “Frodo” Abens has been his hardest worker, with sophomore, German Arroyo; sophomore, Nick Mowka; freshman, Chris Mowka; freshman, Joey Pinozzo; and sophomore, Thomas Webster earning Coach Fulara’s respect for their vast improvement.
Because wrestling sometimes doesn’t get its due notice, a lot of people don’t know a lot of things about wrestling. “It’s fun,” Fulara responds when asked about what the average student might not know about wrestling. “But it’s demanding. There’s nowhere to hide on the mat—you’re by yourself. Either you do or you don’t.” Because it’s so demanding, he thinks it’s good to keep it loose with his wrestlers. “I’m a players’ coach—I take care of my wrestlers. I’m too soft at times, but I like to keep it fun and loose.” It helps to have fun and loose players, too. Like sophomore Dominick Krachtus who brings an element of humor to the team.
As a new teacher, he’s experiencing Aurora Central Catholic for the first time. “I love it here. I love the fact that everyone is about ACC—the school pride. It’s a breath of fresh air.” Though he has enjoyed his eight years as a teacher, he says given the chance—free of charge, of course—he’d go back to school to get his master’s in education leadership, so he could be a principal or dean of students. If, by some chance, he were to become dean of students or principal here at ACC, he said the first things he would do is to make every Friday an ACC spirit day; he’d then give himself a raise; and, jokingly, “fire Coach Casey.”
Though he’s a new coach and teacher, he’s already part of our Central community. Most students already know him through one way or another—PE teacher, football coach, or wrestling coach. This is just a formal welcome to the newest member of our Central family: Coach Eric Fulara.
